According to the United States Environmental Protection
Agency, the world uses approximately between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic
bags a year. Less than 1% of plastic bags are recycled, because this process is
more expensive than producing a new one. Polyethylene bags are widely used as
they are lightweight, easy to get and cheap. These bags are then discarded the
use, so pollute the environment and ruin the scenery. In addition to this
visual pollution, produce catastrophic effects throughout the environment.
Poor soils
Polyethylene bags accumulate permanently in the ground and,
because not decompose and rot easily produce bad soil aeration and deficiencies
in absorbing water and nutrients. The combination acid present in these bags
also interferes with the chemical formula of the soil and makes it less
productive. Crops planted in soils with these characteristics have low yields
due to deficiencies in the absorption of water and nutrients.
Threat to animal survival
Some animals, such as sheep and cows can eat plastic bags in
their search for food, which leads to death because they are difficult to
digest. Plastic can also cause a slow death because it is not easily digested
and remains in the bowels for long periods. Because the plastic is bulky, they
occupy most of the space in the stomach, making it difficult to properly feed
the animals starving. Sea creatures can easily confuse plastic bags floating in
seas, oceans, lakes and rivers with food, so choke and suffocate to death.
Young children can also choke to death if they block their mouths and nostrils
to play with plastic bags sealing without adult supervision.
Pollution
Polyethylene bags are durable and do not break down easily
and stacked to form a pile of garbage. Rid of these bags require much space
because it is produced in quantity and are difficult to decompose. When buried
in landfills, slow to break because they are made from petroleum, a substance
that is not biodegradable. Plastic bags also pollute waterways and land if not
disposed of correctly. The only way to get rid of these bags is by burning,
producing toxic fumes that pollute the air.
Spread of disease
Discarded polyethylene bags can
obstruct and block drainage systems, resulting in overflowing sewers. In in
developing countries with poor sanitation, sewage water can be mixed with
water, causing diseases such as typhoid and cholera. In addition, rainwater
collects in polyethylene bags, which forms a breeding ground for mosquitoes in
tropical area, insects that spread malaria and yellow fever. Malaria is one of
the causes of high infant mortality rate den Africa, especially during the
rainy season. These bags can also harboring rats and mice carry disease and parasites
to humans.